Harlow Running Club

Midweek League: Welwyn (Race 4 of 4) – 30th June

Race Length: 5 miles

PB: 33.17

Course Best: 33.17

Target Time: 32.59

Outcome: 47th in 33.18

Nemesis Score: -2 (3 runners)

Splits

This was the last race of the series where a good performance could see Harlow RC promoted to division one of the league for next year. Despite never running well here, I was going to run as hard as possible for the team.

The course is 2 laps consisting of a long gradual uphill drag for ~1mile to a short flat section that leads in to a long gradual downhill. The bottom of the course has some cheeky little undulations before returning to a short uphill section back to the start/finish area. I always go off to fast as the gradual up hill/downhill section on the first lap feels easy. Even the start of the second lap climb is not too bad, however come the top of the hill on lap 2, things are starting to hurt! Come the undulations at mile 4…  This race is always hot and humid plus allsorts of bugs eat you alive, adding to the difficulty, but it was a little kinder this year.

The start is congested with the chance of taking a car wing mirror in the midriff (and it off:roll:) if you are not careful. Going off a little fast to get position is not such a bad plan as you can always rest on the downhill, but going at 6.05 pace was a little excessive. There was a big group of us including DC (who was having a storming race). I held back a bit on the downhill but as the undulating section came, it was clear I had gone too fast as I was suffering earlier than expected. :/I was striding ahead of race nemeses.:)

I climbed well in to the second lap, but at the top was pretty much spent and getting very hot. I took too much of a rest here as several clubmates and other runners went past.:( 7:20 for mile 3-4! And a lot of this is downhill!

The undulating section hurt even more, but as I turned in to the final 400m uphill, I tried to hit the gas to catch the runner in front, but it just was not happening and he was going away. A look over my shoulder saw AF goes past. Having tried to out sprint him before with disastrous result, I let him go. I was clear of other clubs behind so there was not need to go for it. I switched off for a few seconds and slowed. I looked at my watch and thought shit – my PB was close!  Up until now, I thought that it was always going to finish ahead of it given the first 3 miles. I had not realised how much that 7:20 mile had taken out of my time. I tried to find something in the last few metres, but finished with the line with the line marshal calling “18” – 1 second out! Very annoying, but was my own stupid fault.

I am disappointed, but it was hot and humid. The course is also deceptive and going out too fast did not help. I cannot explain my lack of ‘will’ towards the end of the race other than my race confidence is at a low at the moment as I am struggling to do paces for 10K that I have done for an entire half marathon earlier in the year. Taking some positives: I am at the same point I was last year without having done lots of speed work. I have still only just started it this summer. If I want the 40 min 10K, I will have to focus more on it – personal life allowing.